Slough Slog -Everglades National Park

February 7, 2019

Location: Everglades National Park, Homestead Florida

When visiting any National Park you will often find a variety of activities to participate in, some can be mundane while others are not to be missed. The Ranger lead Slough Slog aka Wet Walk is one of those activities that should not to be missed.

This is a reservation only hike (free) and it departs the from the Royal Palm parking lot at 1:00 pm each day. The hike itself is easy and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. Once the group is assembled it is a short drive from the Royal Palm Parking lot to the Po-hay-okee Road intersection where the hike begins (at least on this day).

Once at the starting point Ranger Emily handed out walking sticks (broom handles) and gave us a pre-hike talk. As you can be assume by the name of the hike you WILL get wet so wear appropriate shoes and long pants. The mosquitoes were not bad on this day but it wouldn’t hurt to put a little spray on before you start. She also suggested not to walk in a single file line which was nice because it allowed us to fan out and explore at our own pace.

It was now time to begin our hike. As I stepped off the bank and into this watery world, a sudden rush of emotions and thoughts flooded my mind first of which was;

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? WAKE UP MAN!!! There are man eating gators lurking in these waters.

But I guess my sense of adventure took over and all rational thought vanished as I enthusiastically stepped off the bank and into the home of the American Alligator. I was now on his turf.

The trees in initial area are smaller (both in height and width) and grew close together. This is primarily due to the water levels remaining shallow or even dry at some points of the season.

Overall, the water was shallow and stayed below my knee, however be prepared to experience the unexpected, sensational and breathe taking crotch line effect.

As we moved slowly through the flooded forest we observed several bird species including Wood Storks, White Ibis, Egrets and Herons. However, because of the time of year there were very few flowers, and even the Cypress Trees had lost their needles for the winter and to the novice observer appeared dead or diseased.

Typically every hike has an end goal. It might be to summit a mountain top or end at a majestic waterfall? However, on this hike, the goal was to breach the innermost sanctuary of the Cypress Dome and discover the mysterious and secluded “gator hole.” And of course hopefully get a glimpse of the a big gator.

Cypress Domes are created in part, by Alligators digging out a depression in the floor of the river of grass. This depression will then hold water during dry seasons creating habitat for the Alligator. It also provides a place for fish to congregate providing a good source of food. Not only does this benefit the Alligator it also attracts other critters and many species of birds.

Another unique feature is that as the water deepens the Cypress trees grow taller. Therefore, as you get closer to the “hole” the taller the trees resulting in the dome like appearance. Can you see the shape of the dome in the picture below?

These domes can be readily seen once you know what to look for and according to Ranger Emily, park visitors are free to explore any they dare. Her only advice is to not get lost and of course don’t forget there could be a big ole gator lurking in the area so tread with great caution.

As our group approached the center of the dome you could inevitably tell that the trees were starting to get taller and their girth was increasing. The water was also increasing in depth and the space between the trees increased allowing for much easier hiking. We were getting close and we all were growing anxious to see if the resident gator was home.

Upon arrival to the gator hole we were not disappointed!! There he was basking in all his splendor. At approximately 6 or 7 foot in length he paid no mind to our presences and just laid there putting on a show. I sorta think he enjoyed all the attention and was just showing off.

I had seen several dozen gators throughout the park during my stay, but it was an extra special and unique experience to be knee deep in the gators home instead of observing him from the safety of a man-made boardwalk.

A special shout out to Ranger Emily for leading us on this hike. She did an excellent job and provided great information. I learned a lot and enjoyed her enthusiastic demeanor.

This is an awesome experience and I would highly recommend everyone at any age to lose track of time on the wet walk at Everglades National Park.